Machine for tripping and pollenating alfalfa



Aug. 3, 1954 D. HVKSTENDAHL 2,685,149

MACHINE FOR TRIPPING AND POLLEJNATING ALFALFA Filed Aug. 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet l Da/e HwIs/enda/r/ INVENTOR.

g- 3, 1954 D. HVISTENDAHL MACHINE FOR TRIPPING AND POLLEINATING ALFALFA3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1952 0 m m N\ c A m8 0 mm IN I y H 9 m MM 0 Y ll I O B 0 m x 0 q .0 Wm I Gr .0 llim9 0 vm. mm 7 mm e um 0 m am 0mm R Q .3 m% w Bk Aug. 3, 1954 D. HV ISTENDAHL 2,685,149

MACHINE FOR TRIPPING AND FOLLENATING ALFALFA Filed Aug. 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Dale h'w's/en da/r/ JNVENTOR.

BY ova M 5% Patented Aug. 3, 1954 MACHINE FOR TRIPPING AND ROLLENATIN GALFALFA Dale Hvistendahl, Worthington, Minn. Application August 18,1952, Serial No. 304,951

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pollenatingapparatus for seed plants and the primary object of the presentinvention is to provide a portable machine for trip ping and pollenatingseed plants, such as alfalfa and the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide amachine for tripping and pollenating seed plants including power drivenpressure rollers which will engage and compress seed plants or blossomswhereby the pollen may be collected in a chamber at the rear of therollers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a machine fortripping and pollenating seed plants, such as alfalfa, including airimpellin means which will direct streams of air to pollenate the seedplants by directing the air streams onto the blossoms.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pollenatingapparatus of the aforementioned character including means for heatingthe air as it is directed into a pollen chamber to bring the pollen upto the temperature Where it can become air-borne.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a machine fortripping and pollenating seed plants, such as alfalfa, that is extremelysimple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use,efiicient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, serviceand maintain, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which thesame is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1, with part of the pollen chamberbroken away, and showing the supporting frame operatively connected tothe drawbar of a tractor;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal transverse sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 3 to illustrate the rollermounting means and the blossom tripping means.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral IEI represents a rigid frame having supportingwheels Whose axles l4 are connected to upper frame members [6 of theframe by fluid actuated cylinders I 8. The closed ends of the cylindersI8 are pivoted, as at 20, to frame members l6 and the piston rods 22 ofthe cylinders I8 are pivotally attached to the axles l4. Horizontalpivot fasteners 24, supported by brackets 26 on the frame [0 behind thewheels I 2, are connected to the axles It by a pitman or links 28 and insuch a manner that the frame may be moved upwardly and downwardly withrespect to the wheels ii.

The forward end of the frame I 0 supports a hitch or yoke 39 capable ofbeing coupled to the drawbar D of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor T,by a coupling pin P. The fluid inlet and outlet lines 32 of thecylinders l8 are intended to be coupled to the fluid pressure lines L ofthe tractor T by a coupling, such as C, whereby the piston rods 22 maybe extended from or retracted into the cylinders [8 for the purpose ofraising or lowering the frame In relative to wheels l2, by the usualfluid pressure control valve (not shown) on the tractor.

Horizontally spaced pairs of vertical rollers 34 are rotatably supportedby the rear end portion of frame It. Each of the rollers 34 includes arigid preferably metallic core 36 having a soft rubber covering 38. Thecores 35 are formed with axial bores in which vertical shafts 40 aresuitably fixed. The upper end portions of shafts 40 extend throughsuitable bearings 42 on the frame l0 and fixedly support sprockets 44which are, operatively connected to a power driven sprocket chain 46 ina manner presently to be described.

A pollenating chamber 18 is supported by the rear end of the frame Illbehind the rollers 34 and includes an upper rigid, concavo-convexedsection 50 and a flexible lower skirt section 52. The upper edge of thesection 52 overlaps and is secured to the lower edge of the section 50by fasteners 54. The section 50 is attached and braced to the frame Inby suitable means such as supporting bars 56 and mounting brackets 58 toretain the chamber 48 rigidly supported at the rear of the frame.

Means is provided for supplyin air into the chamber 48 for scatteringand drying pollen entering chamber :88. This means comprises an airimpeller or blower 60 that is suitably moimted on the frame and whichincludes rearwardly extending inlet and outlet ends 62 and 64. The inletend 62 is disposed above the section 59 whereas the outlet end 64extends into the chamber 48 where it is suitably coupled to the centralportion of a horizontal spray head or tube '66 to supply air underpressure to the tube 66. The tube 66 is horizontally supported on frameII] by suitable means such as clamp bracket 68 and its ends are closedso that air entering the tube 68 will pass through rearwardly extendinglongitudinally spaced horizontal nipples on the tube 86 andlongitudinally spaced depending nipples I2 on the tube 66.

Clamps I4 at the upper ends of flexible conduits 16 are clamped over thenipples 12 and sidewardly facing outlet heads H3 at the lower ends ofconduits I6 are disposed behind the rollers 34 to circulate pollenpassing between the rollers 34 as air is impelled by a blower B8.

Hanger rods 80 are pivotally and adjustably attached at their upper endsto the tube 56 by brackets, such as 68, and the lower ends of the rods80 are pivotally and removably secured to clamp portion 82 of heads 18so that the heads 18 may be adjusted relative to the rollers and to eachother.

In order that the will be heated to effectively dry pollen in chamber 48so that the pollen will be air-borne, a suitable heating unit 84 isdisposed in the path of the air impelled by the blower. This heatingunit may be disposed at the inlet end 62 of the blower 66 or the outletend thereof and preferably includes gasoline burners (not shown) ofknown construction that will receive fuel from the tractor by beingconnected to the fuel supply of the tractor by a conduit 85.

The blade supporting shaft 88 of the impeller 69 is supported by abearing 90 on the frame I and carries a pulley 92 that is operativelyconnected to a power source, such as the power takeoff shaft of thetractor T by a drive shaft 94 whose forward end is coupled to the powertake-off shaft. The shaft 94 includes forward and rear sections that arejoined by a universal joint 96. The rear section of the shaft 94 isjournaled in a bearing 98 on the frame pulley I00 that is connected tothe pulley 92 by an endless pulley belt I82. In this manner, the blowershaft 88 will rotate with the power takeoff shaft of the tractorregardless as to the raising and lowering of the frame In relative tothe wheels I2.

A horizontal shaft I03 is supported in suitable bearings on the frame IQand is aligned with the fasteners 24. Shaft I83 is disposed behind oneof the ground wheels I2 and fixedly supports a sprocket I84 that isconnected to a sprocket I86 fixed on the axle of this ground wheel by asprocket chain I68. Shaft I83 fixedly supports a second sprocket I IDthat is connected to a sprocket I I2 on a driven shaft I4 by a sprocketchain H6. Shaft I I4 is journaled for rotation in bearings on the frameIf] above shaft I92 and is operatively connected through gearing (notshown) in a gear box I I8 on frame If], to a horizontal sprocket I20.

Sprocket I253 is rotatably supported on the frame If! and engages chain46 to drive the latter as the axle of the wheel to which sprocket IDS isattached rotates. Chain 46 engages the sprockets 44 of each roller 34but is trained behind the sprockets of alternate rollers and in front ofthe other rollers, as shown in Figure 2, so that the rollers of eachpair of rollers will rotate forwardly and inwardly toward each other toengage seed plants and direct blossoms rearwardly.

Means is provided for tripping and guiding air entering the chamber 48Ill and supports a viding the supporting wheels I2, in order to blossomsor seed plants. This means consists of a plurality of longitudinalspaced vertical hanger arms I22 that are fixed to the frame I0 betweenadjacent pairs of rollers 34. The rear ends of downwardly and forwardlyinclined resilient arms or rods I24 are fixed to the hanger arms I22 andtheir forward ends are bent to form ground contacting hooks I26.

V-shaped wire guide elements I28 have their apices fixed to the hooksI25. The rearwardly diverging limbs of the elements I28 extend towardadjacent rollers of adjacent pairs of rollers so that blossoms or seedplants will be guided between pairs of rollers rather than the spacesbetween adjacent rollers of adjacent pairs of rollers. The rear ends ofthe elements I28 are curved toward each other and terminate in upwardlyextending fingers I36 that enter recesses in the lower ends of rollersupporting shafts 40.

Where the element I28 straddles the wheel I2, then the arms I24 forthese elements will be bent so as to clear the wheels I2.

Although the wheel mounting means in conjunction with the frame III willpermit the frame to be raised so that the rollers 34 are capable ofengaging blossoms disposed at a predetermined height above the groundsurface, thereby establishing additional utility for the device, it isanticipated that the frame In may be fixedly attached to the rearportion of a towing vehicle or tractor thereby avoiding the necessity ofproreduce manufacturing cost of the apparatus. In the event such aconstruction is followed, the rollers 34 will be operatively connectedto the power take-off shaft of the tractor since the ground wheels ofthe frame will no longer constitute a drive means for the pressurerollers.

In practical use of the present invention, as the frame I8 is movedforwardly, seed plants and blossoms will be guided between the adjacentlimbs of adjacent elements I28 and directed toward the rollers 34. Asthe blossoms are engaged by the rollers 34, the blossoms will be crushedor pressed so that the pollen may pass rearwardly into the chamber 48.Heated air directed into the chamber 48 and through conduits I6 andnipples ID will scatter the pollen throughout the chamber 48 whiledrying the pollen and permitting the pollen to be air-borne.

The pollen may then pass from the lower open bottom of the chamber 48.Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, pairsof vertically disposed invention, what is power driven pressure rollerssupported on the frame, means supported in front of the rollers forguiding blossoms toward the rollers, an enclosure on the frame behindthe rollers for receiving pollen and having an open bottom, and aircirculating means including an outlet in communication with the interiorof the enclosure.

2. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, pairsof vertically disposed power driven pressure rollers supported on theframe, means supported in front of the rollers for guiding blossomstoward the rollers, a pollenating chamber behind the rollers to receivepollen as blossoms pass between the rollers, said chamber having an openbottom to permit the passage of pollen therefrom, and air impellingmeans supported on the frame and including an outlet extending into thechamber to scatter pollen in the chamber.

3. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprisin a frame, pairsof vertically disposed power driven pressure rollers supported on theframe, means supported in front of the rollers for guiding blossomstoward the rollers, a pollenating chamber behind the rollers to receivepollen as blossoms pass between the rollers, said chamber having an openbottom to permit the passage of pollen therefrom, and air impellingmeans supported on the fram and including an outlet extending into thechamber to scatter pollen in the chamber, an air heating means in thepath of air impelled by said impeller for drying pollen passing betweenthe rollers.

4. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, pairsof vertically disposed power driven pressure rollers supported on theframe, means supported in front of the rollers for guiding blossomstoward the rollers, an enclosure on the frame behind the rollers forreceiving pollen and having an open bottom, and air circulating meansincluding an outlet in communication with the interior of the enclosure,said enclosure including a rigid concavo-convexed section having itsconcave surface facing the rollers and forming an air deflector.

5. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, pairsof vertically disposed power driven pressure rollers supported on theframe, means supported in front of the rollers for guiding blossomstoward the rollers, a pollenating chamber behind the rollers to receivepollen as blossoms pass between the rollers, said chamber having an openbottom to permit the passage of pollen therefrom, and air impellingmeans supported on the frame and includin an outlet extending into thechamber to scatter pollen in the chamber, said chamber including a rigidconcavoconvexed upper section having its concave surface facing therollers and having a lower edge lying in a plane above the upper ends ofsaid rollers, said chamber also including a flexible skirt comprising alower section and attached to said upper section.

6. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on the frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand having an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for trippin blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and air impellingmeans having an outlet attached to said head for supplying air to thehead.

7. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of Vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on the frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand having an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for tripping blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and air impellingmeans having an outlet attached to said head for supplying air to thehead, and air heating means at the outlet of said impeller and in thepath of air passing through the outlet of said impeller, whereby heatedair will pass through the head and into the chamber for drying pollentherein.

8. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on th frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand having an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for tripping blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and means incommunication with said head for supplying heated air to the latter.

9. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on the frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand having an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for tripping blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and air impellingmeans having an outlet attached to said head for supplying air to thehead, said tripping and guiding means comprising a plurality of hangerarms fixed to the frame, forwardly and downwardly inclined resilientarms fixed to the hanger arms, and V-shaped wire guide elements havingtheir apices fixed to said resilient arms in front of said rollers, thelimbs of said guide elements extending rearwardly from said resilientarms toward adjacent rollers of adjacent pairs of rollers and at thelower ends thereof.

10. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on the frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand havin an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for tripping blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and air impellingmeans having an outlet attached to said head for supplying air to thehead, said tripping and guiding means comprisinga plurality of hangerarms fixed to the frame, forwardly and downwardly inclined resilientarms fixed to the hanger arms, and V-shaped wire guide elements havingtheir apices fixed to said resilient arms in front of said rollers, thelimbs of said guide elements extending rearwardly from said resilientarms toward adjacent rollers of adjacent pairs of rollers and at thelower ends thereof, said limbs of each of said wire guide elements beingbent inwardly toward each other under the rollers.

11. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, pairsof vertically disposed power driven pressure rollers supported on theframe, means supported in front of the rollers for guiding blossomstoward the rollers, an enclosure on the frame behind the rollers forreceiving pollen and having an open bottom, and air circulating meansincluding an outlet in communication with the interior of the enclosure,each of said rollers including a rigid core and a soft rubber coveringover the core.

12. A blossom tripping and pollenating machine comprising a frame, aplurality of pairs of vertically disposed power driven coacting pressurerollers supported on the frame, a pollenating chamber behind the rollersand having an open bottom, means supported on the frame in front of therollers for tripping blossoms and guiding the same toward the rollers, ahorizontal spray head supported on the frame above and behind therollers and having outlet means entering the chamber, and air impellingmeans having an outlet attached to said head for supplying air to thehead, said outlet means of said head including a plurality oflongitudinally spaced nipples depending from said head, flexibleconduits having upper ends engaged over the nipples and lower endsfacing the rollers and disposed therebehind, and supporting rods engagedwith the spray head and attached to the lower ends of the flexibleconduits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number8 Number Name Date 1,528,664 Ferraguti Mar. 3, 1925 1,866,219 NielsenJuly 5, 1932 2,029,166 Hales Jan. 28, 1936 2,548,487 Marchant Apr. 10,1951 2,570,511 Blair Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date601,168 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Barber, Intern.Sugar J. 22, 310 and Plate II (1920).

